It's officially October. There's no denying fall is upon us as the stores are taken over by Halloween and Thanksgiving decor. There's no doubt many of us are in the throes of planning for the upcoming holidays. Maybe you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, maybe you're attending one. Either way we've got an awesome selection of wines to accompany any celebration you may be getting up to in the next week or so.
Sparkling Welcome Wines
Rosé Prosecco: Borga
For a welcome wine, or the introductory pour, Champagne or some kind of sparkling wine is always classic. The rose prosecco from Borga is a fun option to kick off your evening. It's made with 85% Glera, the prosecco grape. For a wine to be labeled and classified as ‘Prosecco’ it needs to have a minimum of 85% Glera. The other 15% is Pinot Nero aka Pinot Noir and it's made in an Extra Dry style. Now, this is a tiny bit of a misnomer as an Extra Dry prosecco is actually a touch sweeter than one labeled Brut. It's not a sweet wine per se, but there's a roundness and fruitiness that you miss with the very dry styles of bubbles. It tastes like white peach and strawberries. A perfect wine to start your evening.
Champagne Splurge: Gaston Chiquet ‘Insolent’
Now let's say you wanted to splash out a little bit and get a bottle of Champagne. A fantastic option would be the Insolent from Gaston Chiquet. This non vintage champagne is insane value for the price. Gaston Chiquet is a prestigious champagne house that has been around since 1935 but their history dates back to the 18th century. The Insolent is a delicious Brut Champagne made with both red and white grapes. It's fresh and delicate and the most ideal aperitif bubble.
White Wines for Crowd-Pleasing Pairings
Sauvignon Blanc: Holy Snail (Loire Valley)
Now let's discuss whites. Whether you're hosting or attending a dinner, and you're trying to pick wines, you're often tasked with trying to select something that will appeal to most people’s palates. This can be daunting. A good strategy in this case is choosing a type of wine or a grape that is popular and most people are familiar with. A ‘crowd pleaser,’ if you will. As the second most widely planted white grape globally, Sauvignon Blanc is a great option. The Holy Snail Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Loire Valley in France which is where it is believed to have originated. It's got all the classic notes such as gooseberry, ripe citrus like lime and grapefruit. It's one of our top sellers
Chardonnay for Turkey Dinner
If you want a white that will pair well with turkey dinner then look no further than Chardonnay. Chardonnay comes in a range of styles as it stands up to some winemaking influences such as aging in oak barrels or being left on its lees for that “buttery” flavour. A rich style of chardonnay is what you need for turkey and for best of the best, look no further than Burgundy, France. For a classic and opulent style something like the Bourgogne Blanc from Jean-Phillpe Fichet. Ripe lemon, whipped butter with sea salt, a little brioche-y. Complex and layered and an ideal pairing for lighter meats like Turkey. If the oaked style of Chardonnay and the price points of Burgundy aren't your thing, then something fresh and easy like Domaine Girard Chardonnay. Coming from the Languedoc in
Southern France and made in all stainless steel, it's the opposite of the Fichet while still being Chardonnay and still being delish. It's clean and light with notes of green apple and citrus.
Lighter Reds for Thanksgiving Pairings
Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder): Meiser Family
For reds, when considering pairing with traditional Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, lighter reds are often the go to. You might enjoy something like a Pinot Noir or a Gamay.
Most of us think of France when looking for Pinot Noir, but did you know that Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir behind France and California? It's referred to as Spatburgunder, which means ‘late Burgundy’ and it's delicious. The Spatburgunder from the Meiser Family is a crowd favourite. It's lean and tart and earthy and would be perfect for Thanksgiving food pairing.
Gamay: Perret (Savoie, France)
Gamay offers the same versatility as its lighter with lower tannins and fresh acidity. The Perret Gamay from Savoie in France is a great option. The winery is located near the French Alps so it's FRESH from the cool climate. Red berries and dusty minerality, it will compliment a variety of foods or you can just enjoy a glass on its own.
Bolder Reds: Côtes du Rhône and Super Tuscans
Côtes du Rhône: Lafond
For something a little more bold you could try a Cotes du Rhone blend or for even more power, a Super Tuscan perhaps?
The Lafond Cotes du Rhone is a classic blend made with predominantly Grenache and a bit of Syrah. It got great structure and notes of juicy cherries, black current and an earthy, herbal quality signature to this kind of blend. A fantastic option for people who prefer bigger styles of red, or maybe you're making something other than turkey this year that could use a wine with a little more intensity to pair with.
Super Tuscan Selections: La Lecciaia
La Lecciaia makes a selection of classic Tuscan wines. One of our favourites is the Rosso Toscana. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and aged in oak for an extended period of time, usually at least 12 months. It's got notes of plum, cedar and smoke balanced with a lovely freshness.
For something similar, but a little step up is the Il Baccanale. This Super Tuscan is a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine sees extended aging in oak but interestingly, the two grapes are aged separately for different amounts of time. The Sangiovese sits for 4 years in barrel and the Cabernet Sauvignon for 2 years prior to blending and bottling. There is no absence of complexity in this wine. The long maturation adds layers of flavour such as dried red fruits, clove, earth and spice.
Visit Us in Calgary
Needless to say, no matter what's on the menu, or what your thanksgiving plans might be, we have endless options to offer at all three locations in Calgary and an awesome team to help you select the perfect wines.
Thanksgiving Sale: October 9–11
If you need any further incentive, October 9th-11th will be our Thanksgiving sale! Everything in the store will be 20% off, and we have a selection of ‘Door Crasher’ deals with wines up to 40% off, some of which are listed in this article! The sale also extends to the website in case you're out of town so you can shop the deals no matter where you are.